The SUNY Oswego Theatre department will open its season featuring “The Laramie Project,” the true and tragic story of a boy who was targeted for being a part of the LGBTQIA+ community, on the Waterman Theatre stage Oct. 16 to 20. 

The original writers of the play, members of the Tectonic Theater Project, traveled to Laramie, Wyoming to collect interviews on the effects Matthew Shepard’s death had on the town. They created the play based on the findings. 

Tectonic Theater partnered with Oswego Theatre for the execution of the play, including coming to campus earlier this semester. 

“The head writer for the play, her name is Leigh Fondakowski, was able to join us in rehearsal a couple weeks ago,” said theatre faculty member Steven Mazzocone, who directs the play. “And she’s also coming back Friday, Oct. 18, to see the show and talk back to our audience attending that night, which is really exciting.” 

Mazzocone said it took a lot of imagination and resources for the production of this play. A church, a meeting hall and a courtroom were created on stage, transforming the space quickly between scenes. Ten students were cast and given six different roles to play. 

“It takes really all of our resources as a department to come together around an approach to the show that is invested in creating a civil space for the deep discussion that the play is having,” Mazzocone said. 

The play is about how the community responded to the hate crime inflicted on Shepard when he was murdered in 1988 for being a gay man. 

“I think it's such an important show to be put on,” student cast member Chelli Lopez said. “Even today, there’s so much hate, especially [towards] the LGBTQ community, and it’s important to have people listen to the story of Matthew Shepard to maybe change people's ideas of hate [towards] the queer community.” 

“The Laramie Project” is Lopez’s first major production. Lopez enjoys participating in theatre projects like this one that carry important messages, and is fully immersed into the characters.

Everyone involved in the play participated in safety training and was given resources outside of the cast to prepare for their roles that sometimes involved heavy topics.

“It was clear that we felt this story enhances visibility for our LGBTQIA+ students,” Mazzocone said. “We wanted to certainly tell this story to make those students feel seen and acknowledged.” 

He added that the production aims to cultivate empathy, understanding and a deeper conversation about the ongoing fight against hate and intolerance in today's society.

The production has 7:30 p.m. curtains on Oct. 16 to 20, as well as 2 p.m. weekend matinees on Oct. 19 and 20.

Admission is free for SUNY Oswego students, $10 for all others from the SUNY Oswego box offices on campus or via tickets.oswego.edu.

-- Written by Roxana Dolores of the Class of 2024